Nakamichi Dragon-CT, anyone use one?

[nin]

I maybe have one that I can buy. I was wondering if anyone are have used one? What do you think? The good sides and if there is any bad sides of it?
How much off center can it adjust?


Thanks in advance

[LeeS]

You may do better to spend the same money on a newer table and taking chances on the rare off center disc. Might be a good investment on the other hand.

[nin]

I already have a VPI HW-19MK4 that I think is really good. But this is one very intresting turntable.

[LeeS]

Go for it then. :)

[nin]

Maybe, I want to know more. For exampel, how much off center can it adjust? I think one here do have this player.

[OcdMan]

Forum member kwadguy has (or had, don't know which) a Nakamichi TX-1000 and a Dragon-CT. Hopefully, he'll chime in. I'd like to know the answer too, for curiosity's sake.

[digital]

.
Dragon-CT

http://www.vintage-audio.com.ua/pict_mod/cat_items/866_pict_big_nak_dragon_ct_b.jpg

What a hoot, here I thought I knew my vintage equipment quite well, but I had no idea what you folks were talking about till' I did a Google search on the subject.

For anyone else out there who was in the same boat as me, here is a link to information about this amazing machine:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT/DRAGONCT/DRAGONCT.html

NIN: If you can get it at what you feel is a fair deal, and you simply love vinyl, go for it man - this thing looks like an audio-geek's dream!

Andrew D.
cdnav.com (http://www.cdnav.com)
.

[Toka]

Go for it!!

[motorcitydave]

I remember seeing one of those in my local stereo store..I didn't think anything of it, as I was totally into cds and tapes back in '86. Now, I'd love to have the damn thing...

Sue me, I was 14 back then. lol.

[TONEPUB]

Just curious how much?

I think you do need the matching Dragon cassette deck!!

:)

[motorcitydave]

I believe it was about $2000. I have the CR-7A, but that's deader than doornail.

[grbl]

I believe it was about $2000. I have the CR-7A, but that's deader than doornail.


I have the CR-7A as well. Still works like a charm (I think). Haven't actually used it in at least 5 years. It was a great deck back when I actually used to listen to tapes (never pre-recorded though). Retailed for $1,850 at the time I bought it (1988?)

[Shakey]

Not thread-crapping, I hope, but I always thought these things were too complicated. And I always wondered while addressing the off center vinyl, what noise might be introduced by the mechanics involved in doing so.
And if it breaks...

I'd go with the suggestion above, buy a newer standard TT.

[nin]

I'd go with the suggestion above, buy a newer standard TT.


Well, I am not a believer in "if its newer, it must be better". I found measurments of this player that are better that the measurment of the big Sota player, Millenia or what it's called.
But I cannot know until I try it for myself. :D

[Shakey]

Well, I am not a believer in "if its newer, it must be better". I found measurments of this player that are better that the measurment of the big Sota player, Millenia or what it's called.
But I cannot know until I try it for myself. :D

I didn't say that.
All I am saying is that it must be a complicated device and I think simpler is better.
Regarding measurements, they seldom tell the whole story.

[grbl]

I didn't say that.
All I am saying is that it must be a complicated device and I think simpler is better.
Regarding measurements, they seldom tell the whole story.

I agree. I haven't heard this TT, but it sounds over-engineered. Also, I don't want to reawaken a sore topic here, but I assume its a direct drive TT? If it is...

[Toka]

Its actually a pretty good table...very quiet. How much to pay for it? Hard to say...assuming it works 100%, that is...don't think you'll find replacement parts for it these days.

And I'd hope on a board such as this we would be above trotting out the BD/DD myth-go-round...been shown to be bogus a thousand times over already.

[nin]

I didn't say that.
All I am saying is that it must be a complicated device and I think simpler is better.
Regarding measurements, they seldom tell the whole story.


Yes, but IF I can play off center records, it would be a HUGE advantage over a simpler player.

Right measurments are saying everything. :righton:

[kwadguy]

Yeah, I have one of each (dragon-CT and TX-1000). They are excellent turntables: rock solid, good sounding, and able to compensate for off-center records. If you have a good sense of pitch, the latter is indespensible! I can't recall offhand the maximum off-centeredness they can correct, but it's enough to make a very substantial difference on many records.

There are a lot more electronics and mechanics required for the self-centering than on a regular turntable. But the mechanism is implemented so that once centering is achieved, the mechanism is disengaged. You have a heavy platter that can translate independently from a secondary platter beneath it, and that platter is adjusted to compensate for the off centeredness of the record. For the TX1000, the power supply is completely separate from the (70-80lb) main turntable. For the Dragon-CT, the power supply is integrated. Both tables are direct drive.

Kwad

[motorcitydave]

Yeah, I have one of each (dragon-CT and TX-1000). They are excellent turntables: rock solid, good sounding, and able to compensate for off-center records. If you have a good sense of pitch, the latter is indespensible! I can't recall offhand the maximum off-centeredness they can correct, but it's enough to make a very substantial difference on many records.

There are a lot more electronics and mechanics required for the self-centering than on a regular turntable. But the mechanism is implemented so that once centering is achieved, the mechanism is disengaged. You have a heavy platter that can translate independently from a secondary platter beneath it, and that platter is adjusted to compensate for the off centeredness of the record. For the TX1000, the power supply is completely separate from the (70-80lb) main turntable. For the Dragon-CT, the power supply is integrated. Both tables are direct drive.

Kwad


Sounds fantastic. I'll tell ya, Nakamichi ruled in the 80s.

[motorcitydave]

I have the CR-7A as well. Still works like a charm (I think). Haven't actually used it in at least 5 years. It was a great deck back when I actually used to listen to tapes (never pre-recorded though). Retailed for $1,850 at the time I bought it (1988?)

Yeah, watch out for the idler wheel slipping to the point of no return and the rca jacks coming loose...that's what happened first.

Then, after making a quick fix of the rca jacks, the damn thing shorted out after I turned it on.

I'm not sure if it's really worth fixing in the year 2007. All of this is up to me, of course.

[seed_drill]

Its actually a pretty good table...very quiet. How much to pay for it? Hard to say...assuming it works 100%, that is...don't think you'll find replacement parts for it these days.

And I'd hope on a board such as this we would be above trotting out the BD/DD myth-go-round...been shown to be bogus a thousand times over already.

Of course, as any fool knows an idler wheel is the way to go! :D

Actually, I'd never seen this table either, and linked on because my Nak Dragon cassette deck is in shop right now. I do know that parts for that are still available, so maybe it's the same for the table?

[OcdMan]

And I'd hope on a board such as this we would be above trotting out the BD/DD myth-go-round...been shown to be bogus a thousand times over already.

Yes, it's all about how the drive system - belt or direct-drive - is implemented. If it doesn't cause excess vibration and rumble...then it doesn't cause excess vibration and rumble.

Hey, nin, I say buy it. :thumbsup:

[sicksteve]

I thought this was about THE Dragon--the cassette recorder.

I still use it, love it, and in the right car system, with Nakamichi cassette decks sounds much better than digital

[Shakey]

Sounds fantastic. I'll tell ya, Nakamichi ruled in the 80s.

I didn't mean to sound negative, nin, I was just stating one should be cautious with these vintage Naks.

I owned a 482, 582, LX7, CR7A as well as the CA5, PA7 and now just a Nak 500.

Some of these cost more to repair than they are going for used. I just meant that the more complicated the unit is, the more expensive they are to fix, sometimes.

And I agree with motorcitydave, as you can tell from the list of Naks I have owned, they made great stuff at one time.